What if Arnold ran as a Democrat? As an Independent?

[dolstein]

Just curious -- what do you think would have happened if Arnold had gotten into the race as a Democrat rather than as a Republican? His wife's a Democrat. He's always been to the left of the Republican mainstream on social issues. And he even opposed the impeachment of Clinton. Perhaps Schwarzenegger's biggest strategic blunder was that he didn't use the recall as an opportunity to break with the Republican Party. The fact is, the Republican activists don't trust him, but large numbers of Democrats won't vote for him either because he's running as a Republican.

Or perhaps he should have pulled a Jesse Ventura and ran as an independent. He could have attacked both Davis AND the Republicans behind the recall.

[molly]

1. The only thing non-Democrat about him is that is he fiscally

conservative - I would bet money that he will switch parties.

[el_gato]

5. repubs are NOT fiscally conservative

I don't see anything, anywhere that shows me repubs are fiscally conservative. They love to transfer our tax dollars to others.
It's just a matter of who the "others" are, halliburton, dyncorp, etc.

In fact Clinton and Gore were way more fiscally conservative than the current crop of thieves in the white house.

[meti57b]

13. But liberal and Democratic programs such as aid to the less-advantaged....

(poor, elderly, unemployed, disabled, etc) need to be funded. If they are not funded they don't exist. If he doesn't fund these programs, I would not consider him liberal or moderate.

This is comparable to the republicans bankrupting the federal government with their tax breaks to the wealthy, in addition to their adventure in Iraq. There won't be money to fund programs to benefit the less-abled that are approved even in future.

To simply be pro-choice, pro-gay, and pro-other things that don't cost the government anything, isn't enough to consider someone liberal or Democratic.

[el_gato]

2. he's a tool

The fact that he didn't run as an independent ought to tell you somehting. If he gets into that office he'll turn the whole thing
over to the rovian operatives.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. NTFW Party.

No Trousers For Women.

[movonne]

4. I don't think so...there is so much trash in his

background...the repugs would have a field day. Only repugs can get away with tarnish backgrounds.

[demnan]

6. I'm not interested

he can only half act - I just watch his movies to laugh at him. No way, not him. Paul Newman or Robert Redford, maybe, but not him.

[efhmc]

7. He is a joke and makes a joke of dedicated candidates.

[Clark Can WIN]

8. I'll be honest

I just don't get the deal with Arnie. Warren Buffet seems impressed by his intelligence, so I don't think he's just a big dumb jock. On the other hand if his stances are so liberal why is he always so damn chummy with the Bushes and other pugs? Is it just that they spent more quality time giving him telaflora bouquets and long french kisses? I don't get it.

[Bozola]

9. Has he any experience?

No.

He's running solely as an icon; a vague and empty image of supposed competence, as per his film roles.

I wouldn't vote for ANYONE without experience. I'm sick and tired of candidates being nothing more than groomed images devoid of ability.

F*ck that.

I want a capable administrator and I don't give a sh*t what they look like or how they talk.

[Sagan]

10. I think he would have been better off...

He should have run as an Independent. Ahhhnold is far too liberal for California's rock-ribbed GOP base. 1/3 of them will vote for McClintoch or whoever, 1/3 will vote for Uberroth and 1/3 will vote for Ahhnold while holding their nose.

This election proves that the GOP want to win so bad in CA, that they will run a Democrat.

[alcuno]

11. A Democrat? We'd be all over him like a cheap suit!

n/t

[mitchtv]

15. A Democrat?

then he'd be a philanderer,as a Repug, however,he's a red blooded American man

[ewagner]

12. Quite frankly

I'd be embarrassed.

I'd ask the party faithful to quietly ask him not to run.

[damnraddem]

14. Ariana Huffington already owns that space:

running as an independent, opposing the recall, speaking out strongly against Issa and company.

Arnold IS a Republican, that's why he's running as one. Sure, the religious right hates him, just as they do other moderate Republicans. At least Arnold is more-honest than Joe Lieberman -- Arnold runs as a Republican, not a DINO.

But, hey, what if Lieberman were to run as a Republican, entering GOP primaries to oppose Dubya?

[dsc]

24. as usual I ask this question

Name one, just one, of the close to 400 elected and appointed Republicans at the federal level who have Lieberman's record on ALL of the following:

women's rights, gay rights, civil rights, the enviroment, and rejecting Bush appointees.

[On the Road]

16. I Kind of Like Arnold

and DU attitudes certainly would have been different if he were running as a Democrat. Like everyone else, he has a perfect right to run even if he is just trading on his celebrity.

Having said that, I thought Arnold's speech flanked with George Schultz and Warren Buffett made him look like he was over his head. In the middle of a crisis, saying "nobody understands the numbers" and "I will appoint a commission" just doesn't cut it. Nor does complaining about being taxed all day long and promising to constitutionally limit spending. It was not a speech from someone likely to solve the budget crisis.

Bustamente, on the other hand, hit a home run the day before despite being a little stiff. He obviously knows what he wants to do and can spell out in detail not only where he will change taxes and spending, but how he will get it past a recalcitrant legislature.

Bustamente did so well IMO that he might hand the election to Davis.

[edward]

17. George Schultz.

Is Arnold a Reagan democrat? I mean, a Reagan?

[cprise]

18. He could be doing Democrats a favor

...by running.

[John_H]

19. Well, he'd still be an idiot but he'd be our idiot

Thank god he's a rethug. And by the way, he's going to get soundly whipped.

[edward]

20. Hope so.

"What you talkin 'bout Willis."

[Kamika]

21. If arnold ran as a dem DU would declare him God

I know you guys wont agree but its ok

[Bandit]

22. Until he comes across as an intelligent person who really cares

It doesn't matter what party he picks to place himself in. I would like to know one thing he has said that would make anyone want to vote for him. It isn't enough for him just to be famous. He needs to represent something, anything. What does he represent? What changes does he suggest for California? Doesn't anyone care if he is up to the job or not?

[slackmaster]

23. His father's Nazi past would be a big negative on freerepublic.com

And spun here as an attempt by the right to slam him through guilt by association.

[dfong63]

25. he'd still suck